Planned Parenthood seems to be on the Republicans’ chopping block in Congress.
Just what does Planned Parenthood do?
Eighty percent of its clients receive contraceptive services to prevent unintended pregnancies, which occur at a higher rate in rural areas.
Planned Parenthood also does annual exams, which can prevent cervical, breast and other cancers.
It provides sexually transmitted disease testing/diagnosis and treatment, as well as pregnancy testing and other medical services.
Planned Parenthood also serves men.
An example of this is screening for testicular cancers, which tend to occur more often in younger men.
Only 3 percent of Planned Parenthood services are for abortion services.
Planned Parenthood also provides education services.
Its Teen Outreach Program, a nationally recognized youth development strategy, combines curriculum-based discussion and teen collaborative learning.
Working together, educators and teen council members address a wide variety of topics that allow young persons to make responsible decisions.
That alone is conducive to preventing unwanted pregnancies and a healthy lifestyle.
A CNN Money study estimated that raising a child in these times costs parents $233,610.
Having a baby is a big and costly decision.
Because Planned Parenthood delivers health education services to so many people, and because it averts an estimated 579,000 unintended pregnancies with contraceptive services each year, defunding the organization would be extremely detrimental.
Contraceptives prevent abortions.
Getting rid of Planned Parenthood would take away health care for thousands, but it will never accomplish the stated purpose of the defunding, which is to stop abortions.
Abortions will just move to the proverbial back alley, where women often die.
Dianne Salyer,
Sequim